benjamin



(No Model.)

L. W. BENJAMIN. BROOM MOISTENER AND BRIDLE.

No. 497,747. PatentedMay 16, 1893.

FIG I Fla e.

INVENTOR- I Lyde WBevy'amin, 5

ATTEST, flA/W MM;

r @mang UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYDE W. BENJAMIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MIRIAM E.BENJAMIN, OF SAME PLACE.

BROOM MOISTENER AND BRlDLEr SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 497,747, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed August 9, 1891. Serial No. 403,077. (No model.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LYDE IV. BENJAMIN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Broom Moistener and Bridle, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to keep the broom moist while sweepingwithout being so wet as to. drip, and to prevent the dust from rising,also to bind together the straws of the broom, thereby preventing themfrom spreading, causing the broom to last longer and enabling it to dobetter work.

Myinvention consists in a reservoir secured upon one side of the brushpart of a broom with a series of perforations near its lower edge, thereservoir being secured to the broom by a band which serves theadditional purpose of bridling the straws of the broom, also in makingthe reservoir with one face adapted to fit close to the fiat side of thebroom, and tapering in cross section toward the bottom. The downwardtapering form of the reservoir enables one to exhaust all the waterwithout replenishing; the reservoir being secured to the broom by a bandwhich serves the additional purpose of binding, bridling, or claspingthe broom.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front perspective view of myreservoirdetached from the broom. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view ofthe same showing the face which bears against the broom. Fig. 3 is afront view, showing the device attached to the broom. Fig. 4 is an edgeview of the same.

The reservoir A is a metal box, preferably of tin, with the lowerportion tapering clownward, substantially half heart shaped ortriangular in cross section, the outer face being inclined inwardly tothe upper portion toward the bottom and the flat side a hearing againstthe broom but I do not confine myself to this precise form. In one endof the reservoir is a filling-hole B which is closed after the reservoiris filled. In the fiat face a near its lower edge is a series of minuteperforations cl, through which water is fed to the broom. Theseperforations should be very minute in size in order that the flow ofwater shall not be so free as to cause the broom to drip, it beingdesired to simply moisten the broom sufficiently to allay the dustwithout sprinkling the floor. By making the reservoir thin at thebottom, and arranging the perforations near the bottom edge, the waterin the reservoir may be exhausted nearlyor quite, before refilling. Theperforations are so minute that when the broom is not in use there willbe practically no flow at all, or if any, it will be so slight as to beabsorbed by the broom without dripping. When in use, the swinging motionof the broom, throwing it in contact with the floor, will be sufficientto throw out the water as fast as desired. As the broomis usually heldat an angle when sweeping, the Water which passes through theperforations will permeate the meshes of the broom. No feed tubes orstop cocks are required. There is a hook f at each end of the box, towhich is fastened the strap E which securely clamps the box to the broomH. This strap is preferably of rubber, as being easiest of adjustment,but may be made of leather, canvas or other material, care being takento strap it sufficiently tight to keep the box in position on the broom.

The strap and box constitute a bridle or clasp which encircles the broomat such a distance from the free ends of the straw thereof as to confinesaid straws and prevent them from being displaced and broken 01f attheir upper portions.

I am aware of Patent No. 325,375, dated September 1, 1885, to TylerAndrews, and Patent No. 417,349, dated December 17, 1889, to H.VVeitzel, and do not claim anything therein shown or described.

What I claim as my invention is- A broom moistening device, consistingof a reservoir the inner side of which is formed to bear on one side ofa broom, said device being provided in its lower portion with a seriesof perforations formed to permit the escape of water in small quantitieswhen the reservoir is shaken, the reservoir being tightly closedexcepting at said perforations, combined with a. cord or strap connectedto the reservoir and adapted to extend across the opposite side of thebroom, said reservoir and cord constituting a bridle for the broom, asset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 5th day of Au- Io gust, A.D. 1891.

LYDE WV. BENJAMIN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CROSSLEY, J, HENRY KAISER.

